HOW WILL YOU CONTRIBUTE?

Within the Functional Polymeric and Particulate Materials (FPPM) unit, the SPPM Group (Sustainable Polymeric and Particulate Materials) is seeking an experienced Senior Researcher to lead, coordinate and contribute to high-impact research that complements ongoing activities within the group. These include a strong focus on the preparation and characterization of novel sustainable polymers as well as the efficient valorization of biomass in the production of polymeric materials all with an eye towards practicality, scalability and consumer acceptance. Applications of interest in this context include matrix resins for composites serving the automotive, aerospace and space sectors, substrates and encapsulants for electronics and sustainable construction materials, to name a few.
The successful candidate will be comfortable interacting with colleagues from a broad range of fields, including organic and polymer chemistry, polymer physics, polymer and materials science and engineering, advanced characterization and polymer and composite processing, and will possess international recognition in at least one of those domains, a capacity for strategic thinking and the strong motivation and demonstrated capacity to guide projects from concept to lab demonstration and industrial application.

Key responsibilities

• Acquire, coordinate, and lead international R&D projects in the field of sustainable polymers, including multilateral research consortia (such as EU projects).
• Define and pursue a program of application-driven research complementary to the SPPM group’s current activities and in-line with organizational strategy.
• Contribute to the international profile of the group, unit and institution through high impact publications, conference presentations, IP generation and networking with international collaborators in industry, government and academia.
• Translate lab-scale developments into functional demonstrators for valorization in targeted industrial applications.
• Collaborate across disciplines, both within and outside of the Functional Polymeric and Particulate Materials (FPPM) unit.

EDUCATION

• PhD in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field, 12+ years of relevant experience after PhD completion.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Deep expertise in one or more polymer-facing disciplines, with a focus on functional, sustainable, and high-performance polymers and formulations.
• Demonstrated ability to bring research from lab scale to functional demonstrators and pre-industrial validation.
• Commitment to circular and sustainable material design, including recyclable and bio-based polymer systems.
• Proven strong track record in project acquisition and coordination, including proposal writing and team leadership.
• Excellent supervision skills with experience mentoring PhD students and early-career researchers.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral, for scientific and cross-sector collaboration.
• Team-oriented mindset with the ability to thrive in a multicultural, interdisciplinary, and international research environment.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Fluency in English, both oral and written. Other relevant languages are considered to be an asset.

• Acquire, coordinate, and lead international R&D projects in the field of sustainable polymers, including multilateral research consortia (such as EU projects).
• Define and pursue a program of application-driven research complementary to the SPPM group’s current activities and in-line with organizational strategy.
• Contribute to the international profile of the group, unit and institution through high impact publications, conference presentations, IP generation and networking with international collaborators in industry, government and academia.
• Translate lab-scale developments into functional demonstrators for valorization in targeted industrial applications.
• Collaborate across disciplines, both within and outside of the Functional Polymeric and Particulate Materials (FPPM) unit